A Dangerous Choice. Part 3.

Three hours later, Curdy, helped by the bookie, walked slowly back into the now busy bar. His nose was splinted and the white strapping went all the way round his head, he had two shiny black eyes and his top lip had been stitched. 

 

The place went quiet when they walked in. Curdy stood and leaned on the bar. Alex was pouring drinks but said " hello Davy, Curdy, how are yie pal?" 

 

"Ach whit yie see Alex."

 

Davy took a ten pound note from his wallet and handed it to Curdy, "here, take this and huv a wee drink oan me." 

 

Curdy held his hand up, saying, " Naw Davy, yiv been great, takin me tae the hoaspital and stayin and lookin efter me, A cannae take yir money anaw fur Goad's sake, cumoan, enough is enough.” 

 

“Curdy, yi've been a friend tae me maist ae ma life and A owe yie mair than wan favour, so take the tenner and huv a drink, it'll help yie sleep the night. Alex, A'm off, look efter ma auld pal will yie?" 

 

He lifted his hand and after waving to Alex and the rest of the pub, he walked out the door. 

Curdy waved the tenner at the barman, who while smiling, asked,

 

" Aye whit? Wid it be a hauf and a hauf, by oany chance?" 

 

" Aye, well tae start wie oanywie." said Curdy, smiling back.

 

An hour later, Big John walked in to the bar. He came straight up to Curdy and asked " you awright? A'm no sayin sorry cause yie were oot ae order spendin ma fiver and no pittin ma bet oan but A hut yie a wee bit too sare. So, whit urr yie drinkin?... A'll buy yie a hauf."  

 

To say no would have caused more bother than Curdy was in the mood for. He accepted the offer and Alex said,

 

" A'll pit wan in the till fur yie, fur efter.” 

 

He began to pour the usual for big John, while asking,

 

" Huv you calmed doon John? Everythin good wie yie? A'm no wantin oany trouble the night again." 

 

" Sorry Alex, A wiz jist disappointed aboot no gittin the fifty quid." 

 

" Forty seven" interjected Curdy. 

 

" Aye forty seven... Oanywie, am A barred?" 

 

" Naw, naw, naw," said Alex. " But behave yirsell and nae mair drappin the heid oan oaniebuddy. A cannae find Doreen's mop and the flair's awffie sticky ower by the door there." 

 

" Dae yie want me tae clean it up Alex?" 

 

"A'm jokin big man, A cleaned that the day. Fur Goad's sake, it wiz a wee funny John, a hee haw, fur fuck sake man." 

 

"Aye, A'm laughin ma fuckin heid aff Alex, oh aye, yir wasted ahint that bar, yir a fuckin comedian right enough." 

 

Big John took his pint and went over and joined three guys for cards, while Curdy mused over his whisky. 

 

The night wore on without incident. Big John continued to drink, and it soon began to take effect. He couldn't get the thought of how Curdy had cheated him out of his winnings and there he was, sitting at the bar, bold as brass, drinking, 

 

‘Aye, drinkin, haud oan... Where did he get the money fur drink? That auld bawbag has kidded me and every other fanny oan. He's put that bet oan efter aw, and he's sittin there drinkin ma money. The durty, fly bastard... A’ll kill the wee prick.’ 

 

Big John stood up and quickly closed the distance between himself and Curdy. With no warning, he swung a right hook, which nearly lifted the auld guy right off his stool, he was thrown hard to the floor, John lifted the stool and battered Curdy over the head with the metal legs, while shouting,

 

" Ya lyin auld fucker, Yie did pit that treble oan and yi've kept the money. Yi'll no take the pish oot ae me again, A'll fuckin kill yie." 

 

The whole bar was shouting and calling for John to stop. 

 

Again Alex came to the rescue, he jumped on the counter and taking advantage of the height, he dived and threw his arms around Big John in a rugby tackle. They both fell to the floor, with Alex on top calling. 

 

“John enough, Davy Cassidy the bookie gave Curdy a tenner, It's that he's drinkin wie. Will yie calm the fuck doon, the auld guy's oot cauld again. Yi'll huv tae stoap this afore yie kill him." 

 

Alex had his arms and legs wrapped round John, holding him tightly, but the big guy threw him off as if he was nothing. He stood up and sat at the bar, staring angrily at the body lying on the floor. His mates had come to him and were trying to calm him down. 

 

Alex went to Curdy who was coming round, his face was covered again in his blood and he was seething. 

 

“Aw fur Christ's, fuckin, holy bastardin fuckin sake, no a fuckin gain . A've hud ma doin fur this. This isnae fair. Where is that big bastard? A'm gonnae shoot that nutter. If A hud a shotgun, A wid fire baith barrells up his fuckin hairy bastardin arse." 

 

"Calm doon Curdy." Alex pleaded, as he wiped Curdy's face with a dishcloth." Yir losin the place here. That big man will kill yie, settle yirsell the noo, fur fuck sake. Yir face looks awright, the stitches huv burst oan yir lip, but that seems tae be all. When yi've gathered yirsell, go hame and A'll try tae talk some sense intae neanderthall there. A'll give him a hauf tae calm him, then A'll try tae git rid ae him. You keep yir heid doon fur a wee while okay?" 

 

The auld bastard got to his feet and after glaring at big John; he was helped onto a seat, where he held the cold, wet dishcloth, over his mouth. A half of whisky was put in his hand, the auld guy sipped it, and resting his head against the wall he sighed. 

 

Curdy began to think.’It's not fair. Yie don't hit a man twice fur the same thing. That's well out of order. I've already had a smack for drinking his gambling money. I can't beat him in a fight but I know who I can beat. If you can't win fair, or the enemy isn't playing fair,you have to raise the anti in your favour.’  

 

With his decision made, Curdy stood up, and after a lingering glare at big John, he left the pub. He crossed the road and walked the short distance to John's house. The lights were on inside, he searched the garden fences until he found a loose paling, he pulled it free and chapped John's door. Linda, John's wife, answered the door. Curdy whacked her hard on the head with the two-inch piece of wood. She fell holding her head in her hands and screaming. 

 

He kicked her hands away and booted her hard in the face, a loud crack was heard, as her nose splintered, blood poured down her face. Curdy, whipped her twice more with the wood. He heard himself yelling, 

 

"how dae you like it bitch? That's whit your man done tae me. Fae noo oan, whit he diz tae me, A'll dae tae you. Tell the big bastard that, when he comes hame the night." 

 

With that, he left. 

 

Half an hour later, a loud thump was heard on Curdy’s door. 

 

" Open this fuckin door ya bastard, A'm gonnie kill yie, Curdy, Curdy, You hut ma fuckin wife, ya fuckin shitebag, A cannae believe yie hut ma Linda. Ya women beatin cowardly bastard, open this fuckin door " 

 

Big John ran at the door and smashed his shoulder against it, the door shook and the narrow windowpane smashed, he booted the door hard again. 

 

" A'm gonnie rip yir fuckin heid aff and shite doon yir fuckin neck ya bastard. Open the fuckin door." 

 

Curdy was standing behind the door, peering through the smashed narrow window. He had nailed two by two strapping all the way round the door, there was no way it could be kicked in, it was solidly shuttered. He couldn't see anything outside it was completely dark, the lampposts in this street hadn't worked for years, there was no point, as soon as the lights were repaired, the vandals struck. 

 

He called quietly but clearly. 

 

"Aye John, how dae you like it when somebody gits the better ae yie?  That disnae happen often diz it? A already hud ma doin fur spendin yir stake, but you, ya headcase, hud tae take it another step further. That's fine, that's fine wie me, A'm an auld arsehole, A've hud many a leatherin, A can take it, but your wuman cannae and A'll tell yie somthin else. That wee lassie yi've gote. That wee lassie at the primary school wie they wee pink ribbons, haudin the bunchies in her hair and the wee teddy bear she's always trailin ahint her." 

 

Curdy let this sink in.

 

" Curdy, whit are you sayin? Don't bring wee Kirsty intae this. If you herm that wean ae mine A'll murder yie ya bastard, A'll murder the fuck oot yie, A promise yie, as Goads ma fuckin judge, A'll tear yir lungs oot." he kicked the door again. 

 

“Are yie listenin John? It finishes here, you either kill me the night, or yie go and it's over. If yie go; yir wife and yir wee lassie are safe fae me. Jist walk away big man, and it all ends here.” 

 

Curdy waited. The silence lengthened...

 

“John!  Dae yie hear me? John, John are yie there?”

 

Copyright © Weefatfella 2012.